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by Wilkie ; yet, although the King ap- pointed him his painter-in-ordinary, ne was not elected to the presidency by his brother academicians, and, overcoming his disappointment, he resumed his 'John Knox Preaching/ which he had long had on the easel, determining to make it a tine work. At the same time he was busy upon some full-length portraits, among them the King, in Highland costume, and in 1833, ' The -Duke of Sussex ' in the same costume ; but his portraits, while pleasing, failed to give the mental characteristics or the best expressions of his sitters. He retained his household appointment on the accession of William I vT, from whom, in 1836, he received the honour of knight- hood ; and on the accession of Queen Vic- toria, still retaining his post in the house- hold, he was commissioned by her Majesty to paint her first council, a work of great interest, but hurriedly conceived and finished.
With many commissions and much un- completed work in hand, he suddenly de- termined, in 1840, to make a voyage to the East, to seek new fields of art in the localities of the sacred narrative, that his countrymen and the art of the time might reap some benefit from his journey. Tra- velling through Germany to Vienna, he took a steamer down the Danube, and reached? Constantinople in October, 1840, and after some delay in that capital, setting out by Smyrna and Beyrout, arrived at Jerusalem by the end of February. He was deeply impressed with all he saw, and made many sketches of the scenes and in- cidents which surrounded him. On his return, while at Alexandria, he commenced a portrait of the Pasha. He had been about ten months absent, and, though he had enjoyed good health, began to long for home. He left Alexandria apparently well At Malta he was imprudent in eat- ing some fruit, and an attack of some com- plaint in the stomach recurred in the night. He was fast sinking when the vessel left the harbour, and died within an hour, on June 1, 1841, — the same evening his body was committed to the deep.
Wilkie's truly original art will always hold a high place in the English school. His early pictures of domestic story and sentiment, his own inventions, full of incidents, quietly both humorous and pathetic, will always interest and please, while their art and finish, founded on the Dutch school, will no less satisfy the artist and connoisseur. His later works, painted after the study of Italian-and Spamsh art, and approaching the manner of those schools, are of higher aim, and depict interests and feelings which are allied to history, and in both styles he was great. Had ne survived his eastern travel, he 472
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would most probably have painted not only Oriental, Dut Scriptural subjects, but it is doubtful if he would have added to the fame which was founded on his early subi ects. Of these, the chief were engraved in line by RainiDach and Burnet, and
freatly extended the knowledge of his art. n 1842, 130 of his works were exhibited with the collection of the old masters at the British Institution. His life, by his friend Allan Cunningham, was published in 1843. and his artist friends placed his statue, by S. Joseph, in the vestibule of the National Gallery.
WILKIN, Charles, engraver. Prac- tised in London towards the end of the 18th century. In 1771 he was awarded a premium by the Society of Arts. He engraved in the dot manner, with much power, some fine portraits after Reynolds, Beechey, and others. He died from the effects of an accident, May 28, 1814.
WILKIN, Frank W., portrait painter. Son of the foregoing. Began art very early in life as a miniature painter, and found employment in making water-colour copies of the old ma8ters,which were very truth- fully rendered. While so engaged he received a commission to paint m oil on a very large scale ' The Battle of Hastings,' for Battle Abbey, for 2000 guineas. He completed this work, which he exhibited at Spring Gardens in 1820. It was looked upon as a great effort, but it was weakly painted, spiritless, and the figures without motion. He afterwards devoted himself to portraiture in chalk, and was extensively employed, exhibiting at the Academy occa- sionally from 1820 to 1841. He died in September 1842.
WILKIN, Henry, portrait painter. Brother of the above, practised his art for some time in London, and in the latter part of his life at Brighton. His portraits were chiefly in crayons, and were correctly drawn, and. from 1830 he was a large con- tributor to the Academy exhibitions. He also painted some well-finished pictures in water-colours, and was an occasional lecturer on art. He died suddenly at Brighton, July 29, 1852, aged 51.
WILKINS, Robert, marine painter. He was born about 1740, and practised his art in London in the latter part of the 18th century. In 1765 he received a Society of Arts' premium of 30 guineas, and from that year exhibited with the Free Society of Artists up to 1778, and at the Royal Academy from 1772 to 1779. His works comprised naval actions, ships on fire, and moonlight scenes. In 1772 he exhibited at the Academy, ' The City, Mole, and Fortifications of Algiers;' in 1777, *A Storm— Mackerel Fisninff;' in 1779, 'A Naval Engagement 7 He died about 1790.
